Signal Light contract at I-40/Canada Road to be considered

A major safety and traffic hazard may be resolved in the near future as the Shelby County Commission will take final action on the bid for installing signal lights at the I-40/Canada Road interchange at a future meeting.

Tentative dates are Wednesday, August 26, for discussion at the Committee Meeting and Monday, August 31 for final action by the full Shelby County Commission. (This is a change from the original dates of August 12 and August 17.)

The signal lights will significantly improve the safety and efficiency of the I-40/Canada Road Interchange.

This bid will benefit residents of Memphis, Arlington and Shelby County as well as Lakeland residents. The traffic signals will reduce the congestion. The congestion at this interchange is a major safety hazard and increases air pollution.

A major concern is that this interchange is the major link between the areas south of I-40 and north of I-40. Traffic signals will significant increase response time for public safety vehicles responding to residents of Memphis, Arlington, Lakeland, Bartlet, and Shelby County.

We will publicize the time and dates of the meetings as soon as they are finalized.

All Lakeland residents and Shelby County residents who use this intersection are encouraged to attend the meeting and speak in support of the signal lights, or at least contact the Shelby County Commissioners and advise them of the importance of these signal lights.

The names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of all Shelby County Commissioners are listed under at www.shelbycountytn.gov (Click on the "Elected Officials" tab and then "County Commissioners".)

The bid for the traffic signals at I-40 and Canada Road has been approved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Final action on approval of the bid is by the Shelby County Commission, since the funds are a 100% "congestion grant" that flows through Shelby County.

We will be reminding residents and the vehicles using this intersection of this opportunity to support traffic signals at the I-40/Canada Road interchange and making it safer for all future motorists.

David Pickler, New Canada Road next week in Lakeland

Shelby County Schools Board Chairman David Pickler will visit the Board of Commissioners Work Session at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 27, 2009 to discuss the recent recommendation by the Shelby County Commission for "single source funding" for both Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools. Pickler will discuss the effects of "single source funding" on Lakeland and other non-Memphis areas, including property tax increases of up to 40% to pay for Memphis City Schools.

The New Canada Road Advisory Team holds a Public Input meeting from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. with presentation scheduled from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.

The Public Input meeting will be held at the IH Clubhouse, 4523 Canada Road. See www.NewCanadaRoad.com for detailed information.

Plan to attend and get the facts and make your comments!

New Canada Road Meeting Tuesday, July 28

The New Canada Road public input meeting from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at the IH Clubhouse, 4523 Canada Road will include a presentation on the proposed New Canada Road alternatives from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Interested persons are encouraged to arrive as early as 6:00 p.m. to review the maps and discuss the project with the Canada Road Advisory Team Members and the project consultants.

The New Canada Road public input meeting is scheduled to last until 8:00 p.m. and will include time for public comment and input.

Detailed information on the New Canada Road Advisory Team and New Canada Road project is available at www.NewCanadaRoad.com

Harzardous trees being removed this week

Monday, July 20, 2009: Hazardous trees are being removed this week primarily on Seed Tick Road, Old Brownsville Road and Evergreen Road in Lakeland. The trees are being removed by private contractors who have the specialized equipment to remove the trees quickly and safely.

These are trees which have been identified as immediately hazardous to property, people and vehicles and were designated for immediate removal, especially after the recent storm damaged the trees and made them even more hazardous.

Please call City Hall at 867-2717 if you have any questions or desire additional information.

Golf Tournament scheduled for September 11

The Saint Francis Hospital of Bartlett/City of Lakeland Annual Golf Tournament at Stonebridge Golf Course is scheduled for Friday, September 11, 2009. It will start at 1:00 p.m. with a shotgun start.

St. Francis Hospital of Bartlett and the City of Lakeland are co-sponsors of the Tournament. Proceeds will be dedicated to obtaining Youth Coaches Certifications and background checks for Lakeland recreation programs.

Entry deadline is Tuesday, September 1, 2009. The Tournament will include a meal after the tournament, great door prizes, refreshments, practice balls and contests such as closest to the pin, longest drive (male and female), cash or team winners and a possible hole-in-one contest.

Support the Lakeland recreation program and sign up! Entry forms are available at Lakeland City Hall (867-2717) or will be available at www.Lakelandtn.gov.

The Lakeland Park and Recreation Board includes Clay Rogers (Chair);, Commissioner Randy Nicholson (Board of Commissioners liaison), Bennie Cobb, Kumar Patel, Hank Hess, Nikki Wheetley, and Michael Fortner.

Pickler to discuss plan to tax surburbs for Memphis Schools

Shelby County School Board Chair David Pickler is scheduled to visit with the Lakeland Board of Commissioners at the BOC Work Session at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 27, 2009 at Lakeland City Hall.

The Shelby County Commission recently adopted a recommendation that will result in Lakeland property taxes increasing from 26% to 40% solely to support Memphis City Schools.

This means if your current taxes are $2,000 per year, you could pay as much as $800 more per year solely due to the action by the Shelby County Commission. This is in addition to increased assessments of suburban areas by the County.

The "Plan" was adopted by an "Ad Hoc Committee" (meaning "self appointed") that held meetings without notifying suburban cities and did not involve suburban cities until after the plan was basically approved, in spite of the fact that the "Plan" targeted suburban cities for substantially increased taxes.

Pickler will discuss the impact of the proposed tax on suburban areas.

All residents and interested residents are welcome to attend the meeting and hear the presentation and how to protest this plan to increase taxes without any resulting additional services.

New Canada Road Advisory Team Public Workshop July 28

The Canada Road Advisory Team will hold a Public Workshop from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at the IH Clubhouse, 4523 Canada Road.

This is an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the possible alternatives for New Canada Road.

Interested residents and persons are especially invited to attend this important meeting and comment on the proposed alternatives.

Detailed information is available at www.NewCanadaRoad.com.

Please plan to attend this meeting if New Canada Road will impact you!

Canada Road Advisory Team Members are noted on the copy of a page of the www.NewCanadaRoad.com website.

New Canada Road Project City of Lakeland, Tennessee

Downloads Schedule Team FAQ's Contact Us Team Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | 8:39 PM Advisory Team Homeowners Associations Tom Benke Windward Slopes 901-384-0098 tabenke@aol.com Alison Ely Lakeland Estates 901-386-8650 aely@bellsouth.net Jim Schultz Plantation Hills 901-383-7744 jims@745cash.com Mike Sexton Woodbridge 901-266-0022 jmsexton68@bellsouth.net Paul Houghland Davies Plantation 901-373-9402 phoughland@bellsouth.net Boards Mark Hartz Board of Commissioners 901-373-8962 markehartz@aol.com Dianne Baldi Planning Commission 901-386-3343 ladyacad@aol.com Tony Neri Natural Resources Board 901-937-1454 mr1keen@aol.com Clayton Rogers Parks & Recreation Board 901-867-1121 oneaviator@bellsouth.net Property Owners and At Large Members Bob Elliott At Large 901-290-9028 bob.elliott@lafarge-na.com Jay Conrad North Property Owner 901-213-9300 jgc4433@comcast.net Pat Smith South Property Owner pat@clubwindward.com James Farris South Property Owner 901-386-0605 Shirlee Clark At-Large 901-867-4029 shirlee.clark.osv@fedex.com Randy Brockwell North Property Owner 901-592-5316 dbrockwell@brockwells.net Downloads | Schedule | Team | FAQ's | Project Home

July Economic Development Commission canceled

The Thursday, July 23, 2009 Regular Meeting of the Lakeland Economic Development Commission has been canceled.

The next scheduled Lakeland Economic Development Commission Regular Meeting is August 27, 2009

Monday, July 13, Park Board meeting canceled

The Park and Recreation Board meeting scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2009 has been canceled.

ZIP Code Request Status

The application for a Lakeland ZIP Code has been submitted to the U.S. Postal Service. Several more items were requested and the City staff is preparing the information.

Advised that it could take about 3-6 months for review and a decision. If a new ZIP code is approved at this stage, they then do a survey of businesses and residents to see if they want a new ZIP Code. At least 51% need to approve. I advised him I don't think there will be any problem with that!

Help Lakeland Facebook get a usename!

Help the Lakeland Facebook page get a user name! Become a fan of the Facebook page City of Lakeland, Tennessee!

We only need 22 members to get out own "user name"! If you aren't a fan of the City of Lakeland, Tennessee Facebook page, become a fan now!

Thanks!

Brunswick Road closed at CSX RR Crossing until July 3

Brunswick Road at CSX Railroad crossing closed approximately through July 3rd for railroad crossing replacement. Detour signs posted. (Information provided by Shelby County engineering)

If you live in Lakeland (or north of Lakeland and east of Brunswick Road) or living in Lakeland and are going to Millington, the Brunswick Store or Post Office etc., I suggest you take the Highway 70/385 detour rather than the marked detour to avoid extra driving.